Tea has assumed a heightened presence in my life recently. Writer and poet, Robyn Hood Black wrote a wonderful piece on tea drinking for Poetry Friday last week. It stirred up some strong memories of my family's history as avowed tea drinkers. It became the go to whether it was celebration or crises. Tea was associated with calm and considered resolution.
Yesterday, reading om-line, I became aware of an American scientist, Michelle Franci, who has caused an international rift with Great Britain by suggesting adding a pinch of salt to a cup of tea to improve the flavour. The US Embassy in London attempted to assuage hurt feelings by announcing that adding salt was not official US policy- and never will be. They then landed themsleves in hot water by stating the US Embassy will continue to make tea in the proper way- by microwaving it! You can read the full story here.
All this tea talk prompted me to go in search of a poem I came across quite some years ago written by the late, Peter Dixon. Peter was an English poet, author and educator. I have a number of his poetry books including, 'Grow Your Own Poems' and 'First Lick Of The Lolly.' Peter's poems were liberally laced with whimsical humour. This suits me to a tee, or tea...
I’d Like To Be A Teabag
l’d like to be a teabag,
And stay at home all day –
And talk to other teabags
In a teabag sort of way . . .
And lie in a little box –
And never have to wash my face
Or change my dirty socks . . .
An Earl Grey one perhaps,
And doze all day and lie around
With Earl Grey kind of chaps.
No homework, jobs or chores –
Comfy in my caddy
Of teabags and their snores.
l needn’t tidy rooms,
Or sweep the floor or feed the cat
Or wash up all the spoons.
A life of bliss – you see . . .
Except that once in all my life
I`d make a cup of tea!
Peter Dixon
It is once more Poetry Friday. Our host on this occasion is Susan Thomsen at 'Chicken Spaghetti.' Susan gains inspiration from the pinata and a news article about pinatas. She shares the resultant poem.
SALT! Microwaving tea! My stars, I can't believe it. I need to read about this series of gaffes. Your post is a good reminder to brew a small pot of tea tomorrow. The poem is a hoot. I wonder if our library has any of Peter Dixon's books...
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the tea, Susan. Hope you find Peter Dixon's poems.
DeleteAlan, I am an herbal tea drinker and chaired a Ladies Winter Wonderland Tea Party last week at our community clubhouse. There is something elegant and enjoyable about mixing tea with a snowy day. I enjoyed the whimsy poem and the thoughts of peace this morning.
ReplyDeleteMy wife is harbal tea afficionado too, Carol. Tea and a snowy day sounds like a most suitable double. Glad you enjoyed the poem.
DeleteI love an afternoon cup of tea, especially during the winter. And thanks for sharing Dixon's poem. So much fun.
ReplyDeleteWinter time and tea are inseparable Rose. Glad you found fun in the poem.
DeleteJust GRINNING, reading this. So so funny! And I'm not even a tea drinker (maybe I should try salt!)
ReplyDeleteGrinning, I like, Patricia. Please stay well clear of the salt.
DeleteI read about the 'salt' fiasco but then the topper, microwaving, a gaff from across the sea! The poem is just laugh-out-loud fun, Alan. I'll look for more poems by Peter Dixon!
ReplyDeleteOh Linda, it's been more than a storm in a teacup, unfortunately. So glad you enjoyed Peter Dixon's poem. I think its a hoot!
DeleteThere hasn't been so much tea controversy since the Boston Tea Party!
ReplyDeleteI love the line: With Earl Grey kind of chaps!
Great time marker, Tracey. I'm with you on the Earl Grey reference- loved it!
DeleteCharming poem! I am pretty surprised about the salt suggestion, although it does sound like an American thing to say, haha.
ReplyDeleteThank Tabatha. The shortcomings in tea drinking etiquette would appear to need some remedial attention...
DeleteOh my, I'm getting the vapours from the American suggestions for tea! I have recently stopped putting milk in mine, and that is dramatic enough for me. It feels wrong, but it does seem to make my stomach feel better. I really like your teabag poem! Off to make a cuppa for myself! Ruth in Uganda, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
DeleteThanks Ruth. I have not drunk tea with milk in it since I was sixteen when the guy I was working with on my summer job offered black tea or nothing...Enjoy your cuppa.
DeleteOh my goodness, dying laughing! I love that the US had to reassure the UK that it isn't "official US policy"--good grief! :) The poem is fun! I will say, my husband doesn't drink hot things (I know...). When we were in Ireland, he'd ask for ice to turn his daily tea into "iced tea." No one was amused by this.
ReplyDeleteThere is certainly a comical aspect to this, Marcie. Glad you enjoyed the poem. Iced tea is okay with lemon, but Ireland is not the climate I associate with it. I drink it when visiting Asia.
DeleteReading this while I sip a cup of extra-strong Earl Grey (loose leaf) with oat milk and sugar, not microwaved, no salt. :-) I also read about the pinch of salt kerfuffle, but I didn't know it had gone all the way to the Embassy! We Americans seem to be making a mess of the world no matter which way we turn (or which way we brew our morning cuppa)!!
ReplyDeleteDon't mind Earl Grey tea myself, Mary Lee. At the moment I'm drinking English Breakfast tea though. A bit of diplomacy around tea might be required to quell that storm in a tea-cup.
DeleteWhat a fabulous poem. I for sure drink a lot of tea - so I can relate! (Though green is my tea of choice now. And salt is not something I'm keen to try.) That last line is perfect!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kat. It's a cracker. I agree the closing line is perfect. I drank green tea for six months once as a detox strategy. That was enough for me...
DeleteWhat fun! I am a tea gal and currently love any variety that has caramel tones. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is fun. I agree, Irene. I can honestly say I have never encountered caramel toned tea.
DeleteI am sipping tea as I read this post! Isn't it funny how passionate people are about the "right" way to make tea? It is definitely a beloved drink. And the poem you posted is such a fun, whimsical tribute to tea. Thanks for sharing it this week!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy every sip, Elisabeth. You are quite right regarding the rules and rituals surrounding the making and drinking of tea. They are quite definitive. Glad you enjoyed Peter Dixon's delightful poem.
DeleteHi Alan. This is Janice. I'm drinking a cup of tea as I write this. The poem is funny, but, the making of tea at the end put an end to the teabag's quiet life. But then again, it's only just a tea bag.
ReplyDeleteI am noting so many of my fellow poets are tea drinkers, Janice. It's an interesting corrleation. Glad you liked the poem. teabags once chosen live a somewhat short life. They always end up in hot water...
DeleteThis is a delight and it begs to read aloud! I had no idea, the controversy caused by such a warm, quiet cuppa!
ReplyDeleteHahahha--I start most days with a mug of tea, and the salt and microwave made me laugh. Of course, my little electric kettle isn't the purist's approach either, I suppose. Also, I love hot baths, so maybe being a teabag would be a good life for me. I got all sorts of chuckles out of today's post--thanks!
ReplyDelete